Turntable



pril 12, 1932. H, R, JQRDAL TURNTABLE Filed July 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet All/l w n/ r u .April 12, 1932. RY JORDAL 1,853,980

TURNTABLE Filed July 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 .fiar-frais naar frenetica l LHEBBERTLN. JORDAN, oF MINNEAPOLIS; MINNESOTA; AssI'GNoR ,or Two-rimas" To,

minimiza H. HJELLE, or. MiNNEAroLIs, MINNESOTA TURNTABLE Applicationl 1edfJu1y22, 1931. Serial*M No..r548,1360.

Ehis f invention"- relates to4 turntables and irel'atesapartioularlyf tozturntables adapted to rabe nsediin vconnection"with anto-mobilel trucks. tinwro'ad bnilidingzaand A.other building opera- -L gitionattrucksv carrying: 1v building materials -mustfnten-,i loenzusedl on. narrow Yroadways Where room :isi not: provided .for turning the trucks underlstheir lown; power. Portable ..turntabl'es :are now/extensively used Y y for turnv-.lfyin'g .theitnuclsyhutlthe turntablesl now on the @market have not-.been Vof rnggedenough. con- .rstmcti'on tofrstand 1' np l :under the.v continued oharcleueage;towhich they are put.,V

:ft is the f olo'ect'of'.thisy .invention to provide i '-15, ainoa'elrandrimproved .L turntableincludjng; a pain :ofaispaeedrnnwaysfadapted to receive athe `wheelszof aitrfucl and bothtiltable about a uhoriaontalaexisfand rotatable about a vertical .ffaxisrvwhiclr:turntable shall loe .of extremely l"20 cstrongziand ragged construction rto'stand: up

linden continued :usageI rand-l will; yet f. loe. Lof asiinplexconstruction.

` sf To azthis lend', the-invention consists; in the .novelpartsandnovel combinationsl otfparts,

.. -25ahereinaftermdened ini the claims and de- :scribedrinf the?` following specification, y made vin connectionefwithfthe accompanying drawingsawvhereinlrle reference: cliaractersrrefer cto the sameor' similar `parts throughout .the

` 1 Somanious iviewsf,;;and iny which,

l l lis: au lplan zview of afturntablev .emibodying; the ,prsentinventiong- Y f y if Eiga 2;is: awview` in iside, elevation roffthe saine ,'.zillustrating :in .Y iull 4 lines :the-- position i*935 tthatdshe runwaysfand- .parts connected thereto ewill .assume :i wherr i in unloaded horizontal position-pand illustr'atingiin dotted lines-the yp ositiontthat thefrnnways and'parts connected thereto"willrassumeawhentipped toward the i" 40 fsgroundat roneiendiof Athe ,'tnrntable'g f v ,a 31: is a: 'verticalelongitudinal section' j takenaonf the line of Eigl, asl indicated i byi therarrowsfi andgzillus'tr ating.l the runways :and ."partsaconnectedtheretofin the position 45 athey: will assume when 1 inivhorizontaliunvEloadedscon'ditionf; and Y iFig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken :.arrows. 1

59 lReiferring, to; the drawings, arid-filil accordancer withI present invention, there isl-profvidedfan inverted vturtlehback 5 'of octagonalshape inf fplanfview, as shown( in Eig.- l-f and l preferably ofggreater length than width. The

edges of this turtle-back are curved upward-@$5 ground fand-:will fgive direction to yfthefmove- Lmentwofthe:'.tnrtlefback. Secured-1 to, the

. turtlefback 5,` andfprojecting npwardly'there-m front-is. a block- 8, having a cireularftopsurgiace providedwith acircularvgroove 8a forin-k yingv a Ylower :racevvay` fon a .plurality ofi-ball bearings 9. A platform lOfolrectangular- :shape-is locatedabove'the/block Sfand isz-heldZ- A.totheblock by ineansof akngfboltlfl running f .centrally ,through the blocklfand; platform. pThe lowerfsu'r-faceofy the: platio'rm 'lOfis provi'ded'with afcircular groove 10a whichforms Projectingffupwardly.frorn the platform 10 v and formedintegralgY therewithor f'secu-red thereto *are afpair of? spacedrisers 12yfhav-in`g @vertical slots 12a therein. v The A'ftworisers "12 are ilocated fin'.parallelqspacedrelation:adj a- 335 centthe central portionsffofthefplatformflO and: extendflongitndinally .-thereocto, form .bearings rfor a cross :shaft tofbe flater-Hdey scribed. -Straps lfrun-across-ithe:upperiopenl .ends of the; slots 4:120i .fand may be suitably-se i90 feared to the risers 12 as bymeans of screws-14.

.Afpairfofmspaced parallel runwayslfof channel-shape win: verticall crose-jsection1?v are provided and each runwayvrnaysbefsuitably. construct-ed from apair o :angle bars 15m intereonnected-bylongstrips of sheetf metal v15bf-fsecur'edrto i the .oppositely fzspaced parallel 995 projecting; horizontal. :flanges i otwtherfangle Preferablythei vertical lflanges-.ofrthe A best shown in Fig. 2, and the ends of the strips 15b of sheet metal are clinched over the ends of the horizontal flanges of the angle bars. The two runways 15 are interconnected by a pair of heavy central cross bars 16 which extend between and across the two runways 15 below the same and are secured to the runways. The two ,central cross bars 16 are spaced from each other a distance approximating the usual length of wheel base of a truck and are respectively spaced equal distances from the centers of the runways 1 5 taken longitudinally thereof. End cross bars 17 are also provided which extend transversely between and across the two runways 15 adjacent the ends of the same and below the same, these end cross bars are also secured to the runways. To give the runways great strength, each runway is provided with a pair of truss bars 18 which extend longitudinally of the runways below the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 15a and these truss bars are connected to the cross bars 16 and 17 below the same. To make a more rigid construction and to transmit the load from the end cross bars 17 to the central cross bars 16, pairs of diagonal brace bars 19 are used, which are respectively connected at their ends to the end cross bars 17 and the central cross bars 16 and the diagonal bars 19 of each pair cross each other between the end cross bar 17 to which they are connected and the central cross bar 16 towhich they are connected. Four heavy transversely spaced longitudinal bars 20 extend between and are secured to the two central cross bars 16 above the same and two of these bars will be disposed in abutment with the respective inner angle bars 15al of the runways 15, and two of the longitudinal bars 2O will be inwardly disposed from the outer -bars 20. The four longitudinal bars 20 overlie the platform 10 and extend longitudinally thereof. A cross shaft 21 is mounted in the four longitudinal bars 20 to extend transversely between the two runways in the center line of the runways taken longitudinally thereof. A roller 22 is journaled on the shaft 21 between the two central longitudinal bars 20 and this roller fits within the two notches 12a of the risers 12. It -will be noted that the two risers 12 abut theV inner sides of the two central longitudinal bars 20. Caps 23 extending longitudinally relative to the runways 15 are journaled on the shaft 21 respectively between inner and outer longitudinal bars 20 and these caps have recesses formed in their lower surfaces. Heavy coiled springs 24 fitting within circular recesses cut Vin the upper surface of the platform 10, bear at their lower ends against the platform 10 and. at their upper ends these springs 24 fitwithin the recessed portions of the caps23 and bear against the caps.Y It will be noted that a spring 24 is locatedV adjacent each end of V11 secured to the turtle-back 5 and the turntable may be dragged along the ground to the proper position. The king bolt 11 will hold the platform 10 in place above the block 8, while the straps 13 will prevent the runways 15 and the structure directly connected thereto from moving out of position above the platform 10, as the turntable is moved over the ground. In using the turntable for road building, the turntable will be located on the roadway that is being built rearward from the immediate section upon which work is being done. As a gravel truck or other loaded truck approaches the turntable, a workman will tilt the runways 15 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 in dotted lines, by raising the left ends of the runway. In this position, the four longitudinal bars 20 will engage one end of the platform 10 as a fulcrum, while the right ends of the runways may be engaged with the ground. The truck driver will run his loaded truck onto the two runways 15 slowly'and'as the center of mass of the truck is carried pastthe right hand end of the platform 10, the two runways 15 will tip to horizontal position, so that the four longitudinal bars 20 rest directly on the platform 10. The springs 24 acting between the caps 23 and the platform 10, serve to cushion the movement of the longitudinal barst20 as they are carried downwardly onto the platform 10. Longitudinal sliding movement of the tworunways 15 relative to the platform 10 is prevented by contact of the roller 22 with the vertical surfaces of the Vrisers 12 adjacent the grooves 12a. As the runways15 are carried to horizontal position, the truck will be moved forwardly on the runways until the center of mass of the truck is disposed approximately directly over the cross shaft 21. In this position, the front and rear axles of the truck will be disposed approximately over the inner cross bars 16.

The weight of the truck will then be carried from the runways 15 onto the central cross bars 16 and thence from the cross bars to the longitudinal bars 20 which bear directly on the platform 10. Part of the weight of the load will be taken from the runways 15 bythe end cross bars 17 and transmitted through the diagonal bars 19 to the inner cross bars'16 and thence to the longitudinal bars 2O and onto the vplatform 10. The four longitudinal bars`20 `'extend entirely acrossv the4 platform 10 and distribute the load to all portions Vof the platform. An undue weight will, therefore,not be transmitted to any portion of the platform or to any portion of any bar that is used. The weight ofthe #ulead wills'loer transmitted .from :the platf -fthe turtle-back 5.and the ground.. No slidin '.movement,Lofy the runways: 15. .transverse-ly .of-

`:abutment between :tml/longitudinalbars 20 and ralso duet l abutment vof the*v ends fof the crossfshaft.Qlfriouschanges: mayabezmade .inthe formyde- `-:with theinner. anglebars a o lq'the .runways either longitudinallyor trans-I r-versely relative to .the rplatform'l() is impostruck together: with' the `runways form can be very `easi ways 15,which will cause strike yone end 'of' the 'platfo 10 tothe block Sgand thence` from:the bloclr=.to g;

alie place,.both .due tothe the i risers 12.. andA 'the-seen# oithe the platform can t f the runways.

'It is` thus clearthatshifting` movementlof don e :of d Yreadily' rotate the run- J 10 relative to the block 8 truck` Vto 1i. formerly.

the runways .15.. an ways and platformv 8 and the and plat- 8.-

bearings 9' mounted vonthe bloclzl ly swung on theblock l'It will be noted that the'runways15and all nnected-thereto :which rotate thereen the longitudinal. barsfQQareV resting ontheA platform l though the ground isnotperfectly level,;frjee.

Y- rotation of the runways'is possible. IAfter the truck hasrbeen faced in anop'posite direcrtion, the truck may` be backed offy l the vrunf The truck may` then vbe backed up pointwhere the load is tobe delivere again tilt so that 'the longitudinalibars 20? rml 10as"aful VCrum: and the runways, st'rilrelthe ground.f

`to'rthe d,'}and the load dumped whereuponifthe truck may #bei driven in a forward direction-around! th Mug@ e turntable away'from the/'point where-the construction Vworl yis being done. ltfisfof'i course, possible to again run theitruck over;V

S15 ateither end thereof.

the turntable-on its return tripfromthe point sufficient clearance :from the O, vso: that even the f runways vto orm'i :thereto i Aini upwardly A.raised .po'sitionifi from {the-platform v10 wheninoffloadais placed. on ftheirunways'. .'Freeremovement for the'zcross shaft. '21 upwardlyaand downwardlyx'vri'n.` a r vertical 'plane'. is poss slots .12min the lrisers112.

. 5 It: will, of= `coursenbe understood that vacombination; a

.i fof i L"longitudinal i bars 1 1 :extending generally` parallel to; said runways .ande prog ectingfen-iftS5 tirely.; Vacross said platform `and secured ato said `cross bars,v andzzmeansffori connecting said longitudinal bars to said platformk-to yventing f .longitudinali sliding movementwof aid:longitudinalibars relative zto. sa'idi Aplatform; said platform :hav-ing vendy portions Vforming.` fulcrumsagainst.: which saidf'longi-r f tudinal fba'rs arer adapted:tubear:.forftiltingi movemenufy z said lor'lgntudinalV :bars :acting to vvtransniitfthe: weightcarriedrby isaid runways tosaid platform.' i

i 21A tu'rntabll base, a. platform .mounted ron lsaid base 'for' rotation about avertical' axis, azpairof spaced parallel; :runways,..1zmeans interconnecting .isaidz runways and .lhavingiportions extending @over said. platform, a cross ishaftf supported `.:havingl in"` combination, a,`

parallel iriserse projectinguupwardly; .from rsa1 truck may run ori-tothe runways 215 jv.ateith'er end thereof and may'run-Ioif'the runways `.Attention -is .particularly called to the strong rugged construction ofthe present turntable and also to the fact that no slidind movement of the runways can take place relgative to the platform 10. By supporting. the load on the platform lO'from therlongitudinal bars 20, an extremely stable vconstruction is provided and there is no tendenoy for any one part to break due to eXcessive pressure applied thereto. rlhe truss bars 18 together with the cross bars 16 and 1T bind all parts of the runways together, so that as a truck runs onto any 'part' of theVy two runways, a portion ofthe weight of the truck will be transmitted tovall other parts;

of the runwaysy The springs '24 are, of"v course, strong enough tomaintainvthe two runways 15 together with the parts fixedI platform.

said portions. of said:"meansfareadaptedzfto bear for .tilting;imovemenuz. said: shaft'and ible =by provision 'off the? 70 AFF ng from-.i them 5 a platform` mounted on saidsbasef ifor ai. pair of*riso 'permit `vvertical .movementffsaid .longitudifrialilbars .relative to said platform 'but-pre@ d platform and .having verticali "slots f receiving said.j shaft, .said platform 'having fend?l said"y risers actingfto preventrelative l 'sliding .movement between. said runways. rand :said :platform lin;VV a directionflongitudinally of :membersmounteol: on :saidlshaft 'and-springs .disposed rbetweenssaidacapamembers and fsaid turntable eloase,r a 4platform` -moun'ted'on said- .baseifor rotation. about a vertical-axis, aip'airfof: spaced iparallely runways, .crossiz bars extending` beitween and belowisaid runways and: to' which 125V Y 4said runways 'are secured, arplu-rality 'Offy lon- L .gitudinal bars r extending :gene-rally? parallel runways Hand' f running across said to -Y said@ platform- 'and `.securedfto .saidy #crosse bars; a

crossl shaft carried by :lsaid-longitudinalbars 'fand risers securedfto andiprojecting fupwardhaving 'in combination,v a

iso

by said means over `.said platform andspaoed'f ly fromsaid platform, said risers having 'vertically extending slots within which said cross shaft fits to prevent sliding movement of'said runways longitudinally of said platform, said platform having end portions forming fulcrums against which said longitudinal bars are adapted to bear for tilting movement, said longitudinal bars acting to transmit the weight carried by said runways to said base.

5. The structure defined in claimV Li, said risers bearing against certain of said longitudinal bars to prevent sliding movement of said runways transversely of said platform.

6.1 The structure defined in claim @cap members pivoted on said cross shaft and springs disposed between said cap members and said platform and normally holding said longitudinal bars in spaced relation above said platform when saidrunways are unloaded and acting to cushion the movement between said longitudinal bars and said platform.

7. A turntable having in combination, a base, a platform mounted on Vsaid base for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of spaced parallel runways, a plurality of cross bars extending between and belowrsaid runways and to whichsaid runways are secured, a pair of truss members for each runway extending respectively adjacent the two sides of the runway from one end of the same to the other below said cross bars and secured to said cross bars, means extending between and secured to central cross bars and projecting across said platform to transmit the load from said runways to said platform, said platform having a pair of opposite ends forming fulcrums for tilting movement of said runways relative to said platform and means connecting said firstV mentioned means to said platform for vertical movement of said first mentioned means relative to said platform.

8. A turntable havingV in combination, a

" base, a platform supported on said base for rotation about a vertical axis, a. pair of spaced parallel runways adapted to receive the wheels of a vehicle, a pair of central cross bars extending between and secured to said runways ibeneath the same, one of said cross bars being disposed at either side of the lateral center line of said runways, a pair of end cross bars extending respectively between and secured to said runways below the same adjacent their ends, pairs ofdiagonally disposed brace bars crossing each other, one pair of which are secured to and extend between one of said end cross bars and one of Vsaid central cross bars and the other pair of which are secured to and extend between the other end cross bar and the remaining central cross bar, longitudinal bars secured to and extending between said central cross" bars and projecting over said platform, and means for connecting said longitudinal bars to said platform to permit Vertical movement of said runways relative to said platform without permitting longitudinal shifting movement of said runways relative to said platform.

9. The structure defined in claim 4, and resilient cushioning means interposed between said platform and said shaft.

l0. A turntable comprising, a turtle-back adapted to be slid over the roadway, runners carried on the lower surface of said turtlc-back, an upstanding block secured to said turtle-back, a platform pivotally mounted on said block for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of spaced parallel runways of channel-shape in vertical cross section, a pair of central crossbars extending below said runways and interconnecting the same, a pair of end cross barsextending below said runways and interconnecting the same, Idiagonal brace bars interconnecting the respective end cross bars to the central cross bars adjacent thereto, `longitudinal bars interconnecting said central cross bars and projecting across said platform, a cross shaft carried by said longitudinal bars, vertically slotted risers projecting upwardly from said platform, a roller journaled on said cross shaft and fitting within the slots of said bearing blocks, longitudinally extending caps journaled on said cross shaft and springs at each end of said `caps bearing against said platform and also bearing against said caps, said platform having a pair of opposing end portions forming fulcrums for supporting said longitudinal bars for tilting movement thereon, said springs acting to normally hold said longitudinal bars above said platform when said runways are unloaded, and also acting as cushions between said shaft and said platform. Y

l1. The structure defined in claim 4, and trusses for each runway extending below said cross bars from Vadjacent one end of the runway to adjacent the other end of the same and secured to said cross bars,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT R. JORDAL. 

